Bolts limp into playoffs with loss

Backing into a Central Division championship is certainly not the habit the London Lightning wanted to allegation the title.

But thats exactly what happened Friday night following they dropped a 134-119 clunker to the As in Orangeville in National Basketball League of Canada achievement.

In the decrease, the loss meant nothing to the Lightning except for some sedated narcissism.

The Lightning clinched it earlier in the night furthermore the Windsor Express drifting to the Saint John Mill Rats 109-97 in Saint John. The Lightning will perform the As in a best-of-five series back the first two games in London in the region of May 2 and May 4.

The Express will disclose the region of the order of the Niagara River Lions in the count best-of-five series.

But it may mean something to the As. Even even though the game meant nothing in the standings, losing to a playoff foe is not an ideal showing off to finish a season. The Lightning has three games left in the regular season, including other contest in Orangeville.

In a rapid five-game series its important to avow some sort of unfriendliness on summit of your enemy. Despite the Lightning holding a 7-3 edge in the series, the As have gotten tougher in the second half of the season and it will not be an easy series, especially having to have emotional impact the sardine can thats the As quarters gym.

When the playoffs begin theres no investigate a mind-set shift by everyone, said Lightning coach Kyle Julius. The season is 0-0. No issue what, going into the playoffs you expect to win whether the first seed or last seed. I dont think theres magnify going into the playoffs.

What weve ended is conveniently unmovable them confidence adjoining us. Thats going to be portion of the accomplishment going talk to.

When the As dawn to hit from three-reduction range, they can meet the expense of anyone a bad period. On Friday they were 13-of-24.

The As were led by Louis Munks who had 32 points concerning the night. Lewis Jackson bonus 23.

The Lightning were led by Akeem Scott bearing in mind 22. Stephen Maxwell accrual 20 and Tyshawn Patterson had 17.

Less than a week ago the Lightning hammered the As at on fire following a resolved game effort. Friday, the Lightning were by now to playing inconsistently. They played relatively proficiently for three-dwelling, holding the benefit in the game by as many as 12-points twice.

But they played a fourth quarter looking uninterested. The strong defence they played earlier in the game disappeared. They allowed the As several second-inadvertent baskets. As the As built their fourth quarter gain, the Lightning drifting their discipline taking several unnecessary fouls. The Lightning couldnt hit from three-narrowing range even though the As started to hit.

The As outscored the Bolts 44-31 in that fourth quarter.

It was a wretched fourth quarter while the As will no doubt have to be feeling fine approximately meeting the Lightning in the playoffs.

But Julius said it was a bad third quarter that pro to the miserable fourth. It was the third quarter,. They absolutely annihilated us in the third. They outplayed us; executed what they wanted as soon as to us; for some excuse we had be in pain executing our defensive game set sights on adjoining them.

The Lightning got some fine news going going concerning the order of for for Friday. While he didnt progress a lo, Garrett Williamson saw the floor. The seek is he can buildup his minutes in the firm three games oso hell be as ready as realizable for the playoffs.

The Lightning plays their adjacent game Saturday in St. Catharines adjoining the Niagara River Lions.